# Walls and Bridges: Creating Connections in a Chaotic World Exploring how to make local economies more open in the face of threats from abroad Page: Feed: --- ## [If Mark Carney Is Playing Chess with Trump, He Is Quickly Running Out of Pieces](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/if-mark-carney-is-playing-chess-with) _2026-08-20 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ Sacrificing pieces is counterproductive when it does not advance us in the game. It only hastens our loss of it. ## [This Is Not the 1890s and I Am Not Your Wife](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/this-is-not-the-1890s-and-i-am-not) _2026-08-19 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ Defending ourselves from Trump’s aggressions and expelling Hoekstra from Canada are rational responses to their dominant strategy of attacking Canada, not because “it might feel good”. ## [Danielle Smith Is Doing Her Best to Make Voting and Ballot Counting as Difficult As Possible. Here Is How We Pro-Canadians Can Help Thwart Her Efforts.](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/danielle-smith-is-doing-her-best) _2026-08-18 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ If you are an eligible voter, please apply for a mail-in ("special") ballot. Even if you cannot vote on October 19, you might still be eligible to work as an election officer for Elections Alberta. ## [Donald Trump Commits War Crimes Against His Own People and Openly Sides with North Korean Communist Dictator Over Democratic South Korean Ally, but Sure, CUSMA Is Our #1 Priority](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/donald-trump-commits-war-crimes-against) _2026-08-17 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ Trump's own Cabinet members and staff cannot even trust him to not use them as human decoys, so why should Canada trust him to be a dependable ally to us? ## [Sunday Fun-Day Post: Morning, Afternoon, and Night](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/sunday-fun-day-post-morning-afternoon) _2026-08-16 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ The news is exhausting me, so I want to just listen to some tunes today. ## [Ontario Premier Doug Ford's Government Wins Appeal in Its War on Bike Lanes](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/ontario-premier-doug-fords-government) _2026-08-15 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ This policy has obvious implications for health and safety as well as the environment, but it might also backfire on Ford politically if he is not careful. ## [When National Security and Economic Strategy Are "Incompatible"](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/when-national-security-and-economic) _2026-08-14 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ Canada should not recklessly run back into the arms of known national security threats for the sake of economic growth. In fact, it is even economically \*counterproductive\* in the long term. ## [Charlie Angus Invites Us Canadians to "Make Pete Hoekstra Persona Non Grata"](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/charlie-angus-invites-us-canadians) _2026-08-13 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ I have signed the petition, and I encourage all other Canadians to do the same. ## [Danielle Smith's "Dumber-Than-Dumb Luck" Is Getting Even Dumber, and We Albertans Are Paying for It with Interest](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/danielle-smiths-dumber-than-dumb) _2026-08-12 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ Danielle Smith's gains are Albertans' losses. ## [Timothy Taylor on "When Happiness Was Invented"](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/timothy-taylor-on-when-happiness) _2026-08-11 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ In the grand scheme of things, it turns out "happiness" is "a relatively new idea". ## [Countdown to Getting Paid (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/fl3kMkP9zlef) _2026-08-11 · **Sponsored**_ Create a shareable wallet timer — deposits buy back time and pay debt down ## [This Week in "I Wish I Wrote That"...](https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/this-week-in-i-wish-i-wrote-that) _2026-08-10 · Ben Atkinson, PhD_ A must-read from Jen Gerson and Matt Gurney on Canada's relationship with the U.S., not just while Trump is in office but also after he is gone, regardless of which party takes over.